City of Berkeley Health Officer

Berkeley is one of three cities in California with its own Public Health Division. The Health Officer is responsible for protecting the health of the population of Berkeley. The Public Health Division, as part of the Department of Health Services, works closely with Environmental Health and the Mental Health Division to ensure the health of the Berkeley community.

Dr. Janet Berreman, MD, MPHDirector of Public Health
Health Officer

In Berkeley, like in most cities, different groups of people have different levels of health. Some groups are healthier than average, and others are much less healthy. These differences, based on where people live, how much money they have, or their race and ethnicity, are unjust. The Public Health Division is committed to eliminating these health inequities. We know that the only way to do this is by improving the social, economic, and physical environments in Berkeley, and focus our work on preventing illness and keeping our whole population healthy. We know that this work cannot be done alone so we work closely with other city agencies and with our community partners. Forming and strengthening those partnerships and collaborations is our path to success.